Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh míle maith agat. Glacaim le do neodracht.

Will the Irish College of General Practitioners provide guidance regarding the motion that was most recently passed? As I understand it, a motion approving of the Government's legislative proposal was amended in favour of a desire for evidence-based medical guidelines. I would appreciate clarity on this point. I would also like clarity from the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, about what was passed at its most recent gatherings in respect of this issue.

Dr. Holohan made it clear that the right is not to have a life ended, but to have the pregnancy brought to an end. I am referring specifically to head 4. Senator Crown believes sincerely that this set of circumstances is rare to non-existent, if I have interpreted him correctly. Nonetheless, many doctors have a deep concern about this issue, possibly because they are conscious of the national and international politics of abortion. Since what is proposed is that psychiatrists, in the absence of an evidential basis, would nonetheless be in a position to certify that an abortion was the only means of dealing with suicidal ideation, and given the Government and Dr. Holohan's statement that the right is not to end a life, but to end an pregnancy, does it not by definition follow that the Irish Medical Council would a prefer a situation in which a person who has suicidal ideation would be protected to the end of her pregnancy? Regardless of whether one agrees with this approach politically, should it not follow that, by definition, the Irish Medical Council would recommend against any termination in the absence of evidence to the effect that an abortion is a treatment for suicidal ideation, given the fact that there is no right to end the life, per se, and in light of the fact that there is the possibility of protecting a person until the end of the pregnancy?